Frank Christian
Nigeria, a leading national football team in Africa, is currently dealing with a challenging situation.
A series of poor performances in World Cup qualifiers have impacted team spirit, putting the Super Eagles at risk of missing out on the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Just months after reaching the Africa Cup of Nations final, they are in urgent need of a turnaround.
The recent turmoil escalated with a conflict between head coach Finidi George and striker Victor Osimhen, the talented Napoli forward who has attracted interest from top clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal, in June.
Initially a quiet disagreement, the situation quickly grew into a public feud with Osimhen expressing his frustration on social media. This dispute is likely to result in a new coach leading the Super Eagles in their next World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in March 2025.
Let’s delve into the details of the issues involving Nigeria’s prominent player and a revered football personality from the past three decades.
Details of the Dispute between Victor Osimhen and Finidi George
Nigeria participated in two World Cup qualifying games in June, drawing 1-1 with South Africa and suffering a surprising 2-1 loss to Benin, a team ranked 67 places below them in FIFA’s world rankings.
Osimhen was absent from both matches due to an ankle injury. A statement released on the Super Eagles’ social media confirmed Osimhen’s four-week recovery period, prompting Finidi to call up Kenneth Igboke in his place.
Following the defeat to Benin, local Nigerian media outlets reported that Finidi had implied Osimhen could have played and raised concerns about discipline within the national team.
The frustrated Napoli striker, who later joined Galatasaray on loan in September 2024, took to Instagram to respond to the coach’s remarks, claiming to have recorded evidence of their conversation regarding his injury. Osimhen’s emotional outburst abruptly ended when he was persuaded by a companion to put down his phone.
In a transcript shared by Channel STV, Osimhen stated, “Everyone knows I give my all, whether for my club or country. I won’t tolerate any disrespect or tarnishing of my name. I asked to join the national team camp, but Finidi said I shouldn’t bother and to stay with my family. I have proof of our conversation.”
Reasons behind Finidi George’s Resignation as Nigeria Coach
Following Osimhen’s public comments on Instagram, reports surfaced that Finidi had resigned from his role as the head coach of Nigeria. Colin Udoh, a former Super Eagles media officer, confirmed in a social media video that Finidi had indeed stepped down. The decision was reportedly due to the Nigerian Football Federation’s (NFF) undisclosed plan to bring in a foreign technical adviser to assist him without prior notification.
According to Premium Times, Finidi directly informed them of his resignation. Udoh shared that the NFF made the decision to appoint an external advisor during a board meeting, which Finidi only found out about after landing in Port Harcourt and receiving a call.
Feeling unsupported and underappreciated, Finidi chose to resign after waiting for two days without any communication from the NFF.
Finidi George’s Tenure and Record as Nigeria Coach
Finidi George’s coaching stint with Nigeria was brief but turbulent. Initially an interim replacement following Jose Peseiro’s departure, he secured a victory against Ghana followed by a loss to Mali in friendlies. Despite concerns over his suitability for the position, he was appointed full-time but managed only one win, one draw, and two losses in competitive matches against South Africa and Benin.
The Profile of Finidi George
Finidi George had a successful playing career, notably with Ajax where he won domestic titles and the UEFA Champions League. He also played in Spain for Real Betis and Real Mallorca before joining Ipswich Town in the Premier League. With 62 national team appearances, he was part of Nigeria’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad and represented the country in two FIFA World Cups.
Nigeria’s World Cup Qualification Chances for 2026
Nigeria’s World Cup hopes for 2026 are uncertain as they currently sit in fifth place in Group C after four matches. With three draws and a defeat, they trail group leaders Rwanda and South Africa by four points. A potential loss to Rwanda in the upcoming qualifier could significantly impact their chances of making it to the finals.
